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'Dead arm' hurts Saunders in loss to Padres

3/23/14: Ron Washington challenges the play at home after Leonys Martin is called out and the play is overturned after review

By T.R. Sullivan
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MLB.com |

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers starter Joe Saunders said he was dealing with a "dead arm" here at the end of Spring Training. The Padres took advantage of it, and Saunders gave up nine runs in 1 1/3 innings in Texas' 11-7 loss on Sunday afternoon.

Saunders faced 15 batters, and 11 reached base on eight hits, two walks and a costly error by second baseman Adam Rosales that led to five unearned runs in the first. Saunders threw 53 pitches.

"Just a little case of normal Spring Training dead arm," Saunders said. "Warming up, my arm felt great, but nothing was coming out. ... No crispness, everything seemed to flutter up there, no snap on it. Everybody goes through a dead arm period. I just need to relax a little bit, and it should be fine for my next start."

Saunders, who signed two weeks into camp and has made four starts, is competing for one of two remaining spots in the Rangers' rotation along with Colby Lewis, Robbie Ross and Tommy Hanson.

"They know what I'm capable of," Saunders said. "I've shown in previous starts that the stuff is there. It's just a little case of dead arm."

Padres starter Matt Wisler, who was filling in for an injured Josh Johnson and has an outside chance of making the Padres' rotation, allowed five runs in 2 2/3 innings. Leonys Martin had four hits and two RBIs, while Michael Choice had three hits and three RBIs for the Rangers. Choice doubled off Friars reliever Alex Torres in the third inning, with Prince Fielder scoring and Martin called out at the plate. But after a challenge by manager Ron Washington, the play was overturned and Martin was awarded the run.

Up next: The Rangers play the Athletics for the third time this spring at 3:05 p.m. CT on Monday at Surprise Stadiium. So far, Choice has had a good spring against his former team, going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run against them. Ryan Feierabend is scheduled to pitch while Martin Perez will do his work in a Minor League game.